The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-15
JErEERsON's INGENUITY.
Interesting and Curious Features of
His Home AT Monticello.

Frank Stockton In September Century.
| think il is not generally known with
what pleasure and zeal Jefferson brought
his mind TO bear, not only upon the de
velopmcnt of his somewhat grand idea in
regard TO u home, but upon the most
minute and peculiar co|ntrivanccs for con-
venicncc and adornment. He drew plans
and made estimates for nearly everything
that was built or constructed on his place.
He calculated the number of bricks he
used in every part OF his buildings, and his
family now possesses deliberately drawn
plans of such bits of household furnishing
rs ''curtain valcnCcs' and the like. Many
OF his ideas in regard TO building and fur
nishing he brought with him from France,
but more of them had their origin in his
brain. There were no bcdstcads in his
house, but in every chamber there was an
alcovc inthe wall in whicha wooden frame
work was built which supported the
bed. His own sleeping arrangements dur
ing the lifetime Of his wife were OF n very
peculiar nature. In the partition between
two chambers was an archway, and in this
archway was the double bed; n cham
Der WIS MIR. J~ciiCnon's room, and tho
other was his wifc's -drcssing-roOm. When
he arose in the morning lac got out OF bed
into his own room, and Mrs. Jefferson got
out into her room. After his wiic's death
her room became his study, aud the parti-
ton wall between il and the library being
taken down, the whole was thrown into
the present large apartment. Over the
archway in which the bed Is placed IN Il
long closet reached by q s%tep-ladder placed
In another closet ut the foot of the bed. In
this were stored in summer the winter
clothes of the family, and in winter their
summer habilaments. At the other side
Of the arch there il a small door, 10 that
persons going from one room TO the other
had no need 10 Chamber over the bed.
In the smaller chamber, when il became
his study, stood Mr.. JciIcrson's writing
chair, which was made 10 suit his peculiar
needs. The chair itself was high-backcd,
| ~wcll-roundcd and cushioned, and in from
Of il extended u cushioned platform on
| which MIR. Jefferson found IL very pleasant
10 stretch his legs, hcings.sometimcs troub
led with swellings OF the smaller veins %
these limbs. The writing table was ~
made that il could be drawn up over thi,
platform, legs and all, and pushed down
when not in Use. The top Of the tabl,
turned on a pivot; on one side oi il wcr,
his writing materials, and on the othCl
was the little apparatus by which he made
copies Of all his letters. BY his side VA
another revolving table, on which hi
books OF reference lay, or were held opci
at proper angles. Near him also stood
pair OF largo globes; and, IL lac wished 4
study ANYTHING outside OF this world. "
had in the room two long telescope
mounted on hriss tripods. ConvcniCn
| Il. .Y... H.. .atYlava .s.. a lH-.v.lfau asa
the other the bass yiol saved irpu
bouk-shclycs and the aomcwha
simple furniture OF the library. there wcr
o number oi oddly contrivcd little closet.
In which were stored his multiludinou
manuscripts. There is u writing table no,
in the %pusscsion 81 the family which W.
frequently used by Mr.. Jefferson, an
which Is i%ngeniously Contriycd. Two q
It's four legs are hollow, and IN these ruI
rods resting on springs hy which the tnhl
can bc easily elevated, the other two leg
being also CXicnsiblc, but in n dillCrcil
way. when Mr.. Jefferson was tined q
writing in a sitting position ho could stan
mp and raise this table 10 the desired hight
When lac wished 10 use u ua rcadin
stand the top could bn inclined nj any ~
gle, and n strip oi brnss was brought int
usc TO keep the books and papers iror
sliding oil.
Opening from the library was q larg
room incl1scd with glps', which was n
tended fpr u conservatory, but wns used j
Mr.. Jefferson ns his work.rJpm. There II
had n workbench with all porls Of carpcr
trr's tools, with which hc constructed
great many Of the small convenience i
invented.